Tourism bosses join global ‘barefoot campaign’

NELSON Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) chief executive Mandlakazi Skefile will join top executives in Nelson Mandela Bay in leading a drive to raise awareness about the plight of needy children and to collect shoes in the “One Day Without Shoes” initiative. Also keen on baring his soles is Danie Smit, General Manager of the Protea Marine Hotel, who decided to join Skefile on her campaign.

The international barefoot campaign to be held on the April 10 aims to create awareness of the daily plight of the poor and encourage people to come to the aid of school children in underprivileged communities around the world.

“I wholeheartedly support this noble initiative. It is a chance for us in Nelson Mandela Bay to share in the struggles of our communities. The only way we can become a viable community and city is when we all live with honour and dignity,” said Skefile.”This initiative enables us to experience the daily lived reality of the poor in a small way.

Skefile said that NMBT would take the barefoot campaign and share it with other tourism stakeholders in the city, giving them the chance to plough resources back into communities and schools around them.

“We would like to encourage our members and tourism establishments in Nelson Mandela Bay to heed the call for donations, so that together we can build our city. I also encourage companies to take it up as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility,” Skefile said.

One such tourism leader, Smit, did not hesitate in pledging his company’s support of the campaign. “I feel it’s a worthwhile initiative to support. Everyday millions of people, especially children suffer the indignity of struggling to walk – this whole idea aims to capture this strive and will hopefully assist us in lobbying for great change in the world, particularly for the poor,” said Smit.

“That is one of the main reasons we pledged our support – but we also believe that the sense of community starts at home and we must support our local tourism agency, and what they commit to, so that we learn how to operate as a community.”

The international ‘One Day Without Shoes’ campaign was born out of the need to boost the health  of young school going populations by preventing the kind of infections that come through walking barefoot. It, essentially, is an international initiative with tangible local benefits, in support of children without shoes.In Nelson Mandela Bay, the initiative has been taken up by many groups, including Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Top 40 business executives under the age of 40.

These business leaders, including Skefile and Smit, will leverage their influence in order to get more businesses and individuals involved in the local barefoot campaign.

Skefile asked residents and stakeholders in the city to donate shoes and cash at the NMBT stands at upcoming events, which include the Nelson Mandela Bay Food, Wine and Cheese Festival from 29 March 2012 to 1 April, the Bridgestone Great Outdoors Expo from 29 March to 1 April, and the Splash Festival to be held over the Easter eekend. An exciting prize of a dinner, bed and breakfast weekend for two at the Protea Marine Hotel in Summerstrand will be won by a lucky donor.